New centre of excellence for dementia and neurology

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1 The Eastman Dental Hospital site Welcome New centre of excellence for dementia and neurology Thank you for visiting University College London s (UCL) public exhibition for proposals to create a world-class dementia and neurology research facility, which includes academic floorspace for UCL, on the site of the Eastman Dental Hospital on Gray s Inn Road. A new biomedical facility would accommodate the central hub and headquarters of the UK Dementia Research Institute and UCL s leading Queen Square Institute of Neurology. UCLH (University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust) is also exploring the possibility of including related neurological NHS services on the site. Our proposals are still in their early stages and we are keen to hear your views on the project, its design and purpose. Our team is on hand to answer any questions you may have. Please complete a feedback form to share your views or register for updates. Our aim is to provide the most comprehensive, coordinated neuroscience research centre in the world - from research at laboratory benches to patient care.

2 Funders and partners Image of person living with dementia visiting UK Dementia Research Institute research labs Launched in 2016, the UK Dementia Research Institute has received significant investment from three founding partners, Medical Research Council, Alzheimer s Society and Alzheimer s Research UK. The UK Dementia Research Institute is a multimillion pound investment into neuroscience research, with a landmark 40million awarded for a new hub building on this site. The 40million funding will contribute to an iconic 250m new building at UCL, which will host the central hub of UK Dementia Research Institute alongside the university s world-leading Queen Square Institute of Neurology. The centre will catalyse the UK s research efforts to diagnose, treat, care for and prevent dementias, a group of neurodegenerative disorders, which include Alzheimer s Disease, Parkinson s Disease, Huntington s Disease and Vascular Dementia. Funders and Partners

3 Image of person living with dementia visiting UK Dementia Research Institute research labs UCL and our team Founded in 1826, UCL is a world-leading education and research institution. We have 38,000 students from 150 different countries and 13,000 teaching staff. Our Queen Square Institute of Neurology is number one in Europe and currently second in the world for neurological research. Recently, we have experienced an unprecedented growth in student numbers. We need more academic space and this space needs to be efficient and futureproof so it stands the test of time. Following the relocation of the existing dental hospital to its new home in Huntley Street, we believe the Eastman Dental Hospital site could deliver around 13,000 sqm of extra academic floorspace for UCL, as well as creating the new Queen Square Institute of Neurology and UK Dementia Research Institute facility. Along with our partners, we have appointed an experienced and dynamic team to drive the project forward.

4 UK Dementia Research Institute In 2016, the Government announced its commitment to tackling dementia and chose University College London as the home of the UK Dementia Research Institute s central hub. There are six centres at universities across the UK. Dementia represents one of the toughest medical and economic challenges facing our society today. The UK Dementia Research Institute is here to change this. The UK Dementia Research Institute will transform treatment and care for people with dementia. It will lead the way in early diagnosis and uncover how to prevent dementia. Having the UK Dementia Research Institute hub and centres located across the UK allows it to bring people together for shared scientific inspiration, while making the most of cutting-edge tools and infrastructure locally. UK Dementia Research Institute hub and centres The UK Dementia Research Institute has been set up to find scientific solutions to one of society s biggest health challenges. We have a huge knowledge gap in dementia our mission at the UK Dementia Research Institute is to fill that gap. I see our UCL hub as part of a virtual UK Dementia Research Institute building. Professor Bart De Strooper, UK Dementia Research Institute Director

5 Impact of neurological diseases Neurological diseases include conditions such as Alzheimer s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Huntington s Disease, Parkinson s Disease, Stroke, Motor Neurone Disease and Epilepsy. Disabling neurological diseases, such as dementia, stroke and epilepsy, affect four million people in the UK They account for about 13% of global disease prevalence More people live with neurological disease than cardiovascular disease and cancer In Camden, 1,256 people aged over 65 were diagnosed with dementia in 2016 alone The annual cost to the UK economy is estimated to be 134 billion. Shaheen cares for her mum Hosna who is living with bvftd (Behavioural Variant Frontotemporal Dementia) I am delighted to hear that a new centre of excellence is to be built to join the hub of the UK Dementia Research Institute and UCL s Queen Square Institute of Neurology. This new building symbolises a powerful commitment to research in dementia as it will house some of the best talents in the world and shows that the UK is at the forefront to find treatments for this heart-breaking disease. As I watch my mum with young onset dementia slip away day by day, I am confident that in my lifetime we will find treatments and therapies so that we don t have to witness our loved ones drift into this cruel disease. The building brings hope and at last we are moving away from dementia awareness to a society call to action and this will foster collaboration amongst hundreds of world class researchers across UCL and connected to the UK. The paramount importance of funding into research for dementia and the swell of interest being created by families, corporations, government and charities means the world to me. It is no longer the disease we can do nothing about, rather there is a sense of urgency to put an end to dementia. We don t have to witness our loved ones drift into this cruel disease, like an abyss, with no way out, no hope, no future. We must find treatments, we must create therapies to prevent dementia and treat it.

6 Project brief What does a world-class centre of excellence for dementia and neurology look like? Larger teams under one roof Large research teams are essential to solve global health challenges Fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing Key activities need to be under one roof and arranged in a specific way to foster collaboration and give us the best chance of improving knowledge and developing new treatments Triggering more breakthroughs A breakthrough in one condition will improve understanding across others Bench-to-bedside Experts working close to one another is essential in the bench-to-bedside research approach, providing seamless interaction between patients, clinicians and researchers

7 Ground floor plan Typical upper floor plan How the new building will support our work UCL s expertise in neurological research was a key factor to being named as the home of the UK Dementia Research Institute central hub. When the Eastman Dental Hospital site became available, its partners saw an opportunity to bring researchers, clinicians and patients together under one roof and develop a purpose-built, sustainable and world-leading facility. Breakthroughs in neurological research are challenging: We need more clinicians and researchers and to retain them in the dementia research field The industry needs greater financial investment to reflect the impact of the diseases We need to be under one roof. Research shows that physical location and proximity to other likeminded people supports spontaneous personal interactions, sharing of ideas and inspiration that lead to innovation and advances in research. The existing fragmented locations of the UK Dementia Research Institute hub and the Queen Square Institute of Neurology restrict these interactions and innovation. We urgently need better facilities and collaboration space to allow us to help more patients, develop new treatments and share our knowledge and discoveries with others. The centre will be an adaptable space where researchers and clinicians studying neurological diseases can collaborate to develop new treatments for, and make links between, neurological illnesses.

8 The Knowledge Quarter The site is within London s Knowledge Quarter, which is one of the greatest knowledge clusters anywhere in the world. It is home to a collection of diverse organisations of all sizes, which form a part of the knowledge community. This includes UCL itself, The Wellcome Trust, the Royal College of Physicians, the Medical Research Council and the Francis Crick Institute. This enables researchers and clinicians based at the new centre to collaborate with these organisations to encourage new advances that will further medical, academic and scientific research.

9 Purpose-built centre of excellence on the site of the former Royal Free Hospital Redeveloped Levy Wing site Restored Eastman Dental Clinic KEY Site strategy Public realm improvements Site strategy The new dementia and neurology research facility would be built on the site of the Eastman Dental Hospital, which includes the former Royal Free Hospital, Eastman Dental Clinic and the Levy Wing. The site sits within London Borough of Camden and the buildings that front directly onto Gray s Inn Road also sit within the Bloomsbury Conservation Area. Our proposals include: A purpose-built centre of excellence on the site of the former Royal Free Hospital Restoring the Eastman Dental Clinic Redevelopment on the Levy Wing site. With the former Royal Free Hospital, it is proposed to retain the Alexandra Wing that fronts onto Gray s Inn Road and to replace the remainder of the building. This will allow a new building to accommodate the new medical research facility, incorporating the UK Dementia Research Institute hub and the Queen Square Institute of Neurology. UCLH (University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust) is also exploring the possibility of including NHS services on the site. The Grade-II listed Eastman Dental Clinic would be retained and reused for academic space. The modern extensions will be removed and the historic building will be refurbished, creating a handsome landmark on Gray s Inn Road. The Levy Wing buildings to the rear of the Eastman Dental Clinic would be replaced with purpose-built academic space for UCL.

10 Historic view of Eastman Dental Clinic Heritage and conservation The former Royal Free Hospital was founded by William Marsden in 1828 to offer free healthcare to London s poor. It was the first purpose-built free hospital and was also the first hospital to train women as doctors. However, different elements of the buildings were completed at different times and designed by different architects. The primary significance lies in the Alexandra Wing, which fronts onto Gray s Inn Road. The Eastman Dental Clinic is historically and architecturally important and adds to the character of the Bloomsbury Conservation Area. The American philanthropist George Eastman funded its construction, to provide dental care for children born into poverty. The Eastman Dental Clinic was completed in 1931 on the site of a former munitions factory. It is Grade-II listed and is the most significant historic element of the site. Alan Baxter Limited, our appointed heritage consultant, has identified that the Levy Wing buildings to the rear of the Eastman Dental Clinic and the link that extends to Gray s Inn Road, are of limited significance. By removing these, the significance of the listed Eastman Dental Clinic would be better highlighted. Sensitive redevelopment of the site has the potential to enhance the character and appearance of the conservation area.

11 Feasibility We have undertaken a thorough feasibility process to assess a range of options for delivering the brief and the associated benefits in a way that minimises the harm to the historic buildings on the site. Existing site buildings and surrounding context An assessment of the former Royal Free Hospital buildings has revealed that they are not suitable to meet the needs of a modern research facility. The narrow floorplates and fragmented nature of the internal spaces would inhibit, rather than facilitate, collaboration. The buildings fail to meet the requirements for an accessible, inclusive and dementia-friendly environment that are essential to the success of future research. We believe the best option is to retain the Alexandra Wing of the former Royal Free Hospital and to erect a new building to the rear that is capable of: Achieving the large, efficient floorplates that foster the collaboration necessary to facilitate scientific breakthroughs Delivering efficiencies through sharing of space and facilities Creating a dementia-friendly environment. We believe that this option gives the best balance between providing a world-class medical research and teaching facility and protecting the significance of the most important parts of the historic buildings, while opening up the site for public access.

12 Early designs Our aim is to bring researchers, clinicians and patients together under one roof to foster collaboration and improve understanding of neurological diseases. Existing image of the Alexandra Wing of the former Royal Free Hospital Artist s impression of the proposed centre of excellence from Gray s Inn Road Existing image of the Eastman Dental Clinic Artist s impression of the proposed centre of excellence from St Andrew s Gardens

13 Early designs Existing image of the former Royal Free Hospital Artist s impression of the proposed centre of excellence from Gray s Inn Road Artist s impression of the proposed courtyard at the centre of excellence

14 Benefits for the local community and beyond We want to provide the most comprehensive, coordinated neuroscience research centre in the world - from research at laboratory benches to patient care. A world-class research and out-patient facility for neurological disease would not only be of global significance, but local value too. Local benefits Up to 600 jobs in the new facility and supporting many more in the local economy The centre will also transform the visual and physical environment in and around the site On-site public café Sensory garden for use by patients, visitors and the public Community and public events Landscaping to complement neighbouring Calthorpe Project and Frances Gardner House Knock on economic benefit to smaller suppliers and businesses Pedestrian connections between Gray s Inn Road and King s Cross Road (east-west), with the possibility of other local connections. Wider benefits The facility will house new MRI scanners, which will provide scanning services for people with neurological conditions The possibility of NHS neurology services Benefits to the London economy by strengthening links between research and commercial opportunities Breakthroughs in treatment and care for those with neurological conditions Opportunity for some patients to participate in clinical trials A high concentration of the brightest minds in neurology research from around the world under one roof, leading to more innovation.

15 Public spaces and landscaping The team is developing a full landscaping strategy, which includes new pedestrian routes and landscaping improvements. New landscaped areas will include a sensory garden, a new courtyard and publicly accessible green spaces, which will incorporate hard and soft landscaping. Our aim is to create a calm environment for patients, visitors, workers and residents to enjoy. Precedent images of landscaping with site masterplan

16 Site context with new public spaces Sustainability, environment and transport The team is developing a full sustainability strategy and will provide full details later in the design process. The strategy includes new pedestrian routes through landscaped areas, extensive cycle parking and car parking limited to blue badge holders. In addition, the site s proximity to King s Cross and Euston provides excellent connectivity to the rest of the UK and Europe. The site has good transport links and a PTAL (Public Transport Accessibility Level) rating of 6a (the second best level of accessibility). The aim is to be car-free, other than accessible parking spaces and drop-off points for patients and servicing needs. On the ground floor, we are looking at providing approximately 250 cycle parking spaces. The new building will target BREEAM Excellent and will be adaptable so rooms can be reconfigured if needed and, as such, will be more efficient and sustainable.

17 Timeline Timeline of our planning and consultation programme: 2018 September 2018 Consultation begins Launch of consultation website First public exhibitions with local community and stakeholder meetings October 2018 December 2018 Review consultation feedback to inform design development Ongoing stakeholder meetings Ongoing community meetings and updates January 2019 Second public exhibitions with local community on updated proposal Ongoing stakeholder meetings and community updates Spring 2019 Target submission of planning application Autumn 2019 Existing dental hospital to relocate to Huntley Street 2020 Start work on-site 2024 UK Dementia Research Institute/Queen Square Institute of Neurology move into new centre of excellence

18 Consultation and next steps We are in the early stages of design and this public exhibition is the first part of our consultation programme with the local community. We want to understand what is important to you and ensure you play a part in shaping the plans. Following today, we will review all feedback received to inform our design development. We will be working to a strict Construction Management Plan, which the community will be consulted on before it is agreed with London Borough of Camden prior to the commencement of works on site. We will require the construction contractor to be part of the Considerate Constructors Scheme, which ensures the impact of building works on local communities is minimised in terms of noise, traffic, access and hours of operation. The Considerate Constructors Scheme is a national initiative set up by the construction industry to improve its image. Construction sites and companies registered with the Scheme are monitored against a Code of Considerate Practice. The Construction Management Plan will also take into account other developments taking place in the vicinity, to minimise impact on our neighbours. Please take your time to consider the information presented and to discuss this with the project team. We encourage you to share your thoughts with us and complete the feedback form. You can also register to receive updates during the planning process and beyond. For further information please contact: info@ucl-eastmandentalhospital-consultation.com